Martinsburg daily gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1887-1887, 1887-04-20
In THE WORLD OF LABOR.
STOVE MoLDERs REFUSE TO WORK
ON THE eoYcoTTED PATTERNS.

STOVE MOLDERS REFUSE TO WORK
ON THE BoYcoTTED PATTERNS.
Nine Hundred Mon Lay Down Their Tools
and Quit Work in Cincinnati-The Cir
cumstances That Led to the Strange
state or Anairs-Other Labor News.
CINCINNATI, April ~. There is presented
In this city the anomaly Of 900 men quitting
work against their own inclinations and
contrary to the wish Of their employers.
These men are stove molders and others en-
gagged in the stove foundIies of the city,
whose employment IS dependent upon the
molders They all quit work because Presi-
dent Fitzpatrick, president Of the National
Union of Stove Molders, commanded them to
do 50. :.
The circumstances that led to the strange
condition of affairs existing in Cincinnati
are not unfamiliar to all. Some weeks ago
the molders in the foundry Of Bridge, Beach
& Co. of st. Louis demanded an advance OF
Is per cent. This was refused and q
compromise offer of 10 per cent. advance
made to the molders, who refused. There
upon the Stove Founders National Defense
association took up the matter. and. taking
the patterns Of Bridge, Beach u Co., dis
tributed them among stove foundries in
other cities, members OF the association.
It was tue bringing Of those patterns to
this city that has caused the strike, which is
q curious sort of a strike, anyhow. AT the
Favorite stove works but one of Bridge,
Beach & Co.'S patterns was received-an
oven door-all, but four of thsm were to be
made day. No one foundry anywhere had
enough of the patterns assigned to it to cause
any iiiconvenience. Roadway & Burton,
William Resor. q Co., all received patterns,
and they were ..put OH the hOor." And now
comes the queer part.
The men are willing to work, are satisfied
with their wages and there is plenter Of work
for tilenl to do, yet when these Insignificant
patterns came in they laid down their tools
and sent information to President Ntzpat-
rick, of the National union, and asked him
what should he done. The order at once
came to strike--ald they struck. II n the
most unique sLrlke that ever took place in
Cincinnati, when yOO men, satisfied with
their wages and with plenty Of work, quit
That WORK and enter upon a line OF action
that will certainly result In paralyzing the
stove business amt drive it elsewhere.
OF course, there lisa principle back Of II
ALL and the men say they must carry out
their principle.
Messrs. Chamberlain & Co have had their
foundry closed for some weeks, soft they are
not affected, ami Messrs. ]. Dyett, Of this
city, Moore, Hardness g. Bayless, of New
port, and Bogenschutz & Co, Of CovingtOn,
do not belong TO the National Defense asso-
citation.
What particularly hurts the feelings OF the
Cincinnati founders whose men left them II
that in Detroit, Chicago and Pittsburg, and
even in one foundry in St Louis, the pat
terms Of Bridge, Beach & Co have been re
ceived in union shops and the men allowed
to work on them, while in Cincinnati a strike
\ is ordered as soon as the patterns are put OF
the floor That is what puzzles the Cincin
natl stove founders. The strike Is general
however. In all the cities except thos'
named, the molders refused to handle thu
| obnoxious patterns, and left their work, the
number Of men who are idle because o.
conditions resulting from the strike IL
Bridge, Beach & Co.'S shop being in thu
neighborhood of 5000 Foundries have beer
! closed in st. Louis, Quincy, Belleville, LII.
| Keokuk, Iowa, Leavenworth, Kan, ane
/ Milwaukee, Wis It is safe to estimate, s.
II it Is said that each Of these s, OJ0 men earns
y on an average, 50 day, 80 that $4,000 |
day il being lost to the men by reason Of thi
unprecedented strike. OF that sum 81, 500 /
J, day IS lost to Cincinnati Workmen
Used His Gun for whip. s